Cushion.



no. 726,164. V PATENT-ED APR. 21, 190s. v

' 1). HOGAN s50, WLMEINEGKE.

I 4 CUSHION. APPLIOAT ION FIL'BD JUNE 20, 1900.

, I INVENTORS z Daniel Hagan Chrz'sh'an William mzinuh ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL HOGAN OF NEVV YORK, N. Y., AND OHR ISTIANNVILLIAM MEINEOKE, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AS SIGNORS TO MEINEOKE & CO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CUSHION.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 726,164, dated April. 21, 1903.

Application filed June 20, 1900.

To wZZ whom, it may concern: I Be it known that we, DANIEL HOGAN, resid ing at Manhattan, in the city, county, and

State of New York, and CHRISTIAN WILLIAM MEINECKE, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, citizens of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cushions, of which the followingis a specification. Our invention relates to improvements in cushions which are serviceable particularly for invalids, though capable of general use, being quite convenientfor travelers and others.

Our invention has forits object the provision of an improved cushion of novel construction and capable of being adjusted to facilitate various surgical operations or having the capacity of being adjusted to suit the convenience or comfort of the user. To the ends stated our invention consists in a cushion constructed and arranged as hereinafter described, and set forth in the following clauses of claim, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a cushion constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a slightly differently arranged cushion, and Fig. 4 a rear view of the cushion illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig; 5 is a view of a further modification.

As shown in the accompanyingdrawings, the cushion iscomposed of a body a, which, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings,

is particircular incontour, has opposite outwardly-swelledportions to support the but-- tocks, and then converges to the lineindicated by the'reference-numeral l in said figure of the drawings, at which line the body 40 of the cushion terminates. Projecting for wardly from the converging portions of the body ofthe cushion and forming continuations thereof are a pair of free shanks or legs (1'. .These free shanks extend forwardly 5 from the body and normally near'or in close relation to each other and in a generally parallel relation, being separated from each other by a narrow passage 1), and are made to converge with their terminals laterally extending inward toward and in contact with figures.

erial No. 21,016. (No model.)

between the legs or shanks leads. As shown in the drawings, the shape of this opening is oval or elongated, and this has been found suitable, though, if desired, it may be circular or approximately so. The shanks or he legs, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,'are carried in toward each other and lie near together and generally parallel, but converging to their free ends, which are normally in contact to form a substantially solid portion in cross-section. As shown in thedrawings, the passage b between the shanks or legs isnarrower than the central opening b. The cushionillustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings is of similar character, except that its contour is angular rather than curved, as in the other The cushion described, having the free shanks or legs, is capable of many adjustments useful in surgery and for the convenience of invalids, travelers, and other users. .When in use, it is designed that the buttocks of a person shall rest on the body a and the thighs on the shanks or legs a, and the cush- Eion is adapted to support the same parts when the user is in a reclining position, as-in bed. The passage b permits of the ready insertion and withdrawal of a rubberor impervious sheeting under the cushion to serve as a protection for bedding and also permits the in- 5 sertion and withdrawal of a urinal or bedpan intothe opening I), where the surrounding cushion tends to hold or secure it from slipping, upsetting, or other accident. said passage also permits ready access of the The hand of an attendant in bathing, douching, or other operation, and, as will be apparent, a bed pan or vessel can be placed or shoved under the cushion, so that the latter will form a soft seat on the vessel. The shanks or legs normally lie close together and are generally parallel, butconverge to their free ends,which 'are in contact to form a substantially solid portion in cross-section. The free ends of the shanks or legs can be opened out or sepa- Ioc rated from each other to various degrees to support the legs of a 'patient or user in any adjusted position, which is a great convenience in many surgical operations and also conduces to the comfort of the general user, who may shift the position of,his legs at will and yet have them supported by the cushion. By constructing the cushion with a body portion to support the buttocks and the free shanks extending from the body portion and normally sustaining a parallel relation to each other the cushion is adapted to support the body in the ordinary posture of sitting with ease and comfort. The passage 1), separating the shanks or legs of the cushion, also avoids any liability of pressure or hurting the testicles or private parts and prevents constriction. As best shown in Fig. 2, the body of the cushion and the shanks taper to the extremities of the latter, whereby an inclined and comfortable rest for the thighs of a person sitting on the cushion is afforded.

Proper ventilation is a valuable consideration, whether the cushion be employed as a seat-cushion or for invalid use While reclining, and this is aiforded by the passage b in connection with a horizontal ventilator or airchannel 0. (Shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.) If desired, two ventilator-channels c and a can be provided at the upper and lower sides of the cushion, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The reduced portion in the body of the cushion formed by the air-channels or ventilators serves also as a suitable hinge to permit one half of the cushion to be folded over upon the other half, in which condition it may be used as a pillow or as a cushion for any part of the human body. In an inflatable cushion to facilitate this folding the air may be partially exhausted from the cushion, so that when folded one half will be comparatively flat, while the other is comparatively fully inflated. When so folded, it serves as a desirable cushion or support to exert pressure on the back, valuable to alleviate pain in kidney troubles, and it is obvious it may be applied as a cushion or deviceto support or exert pressure against any portion of the human body. This reduced portion also prevents pressure of the cushion against the spine.

The shanks or legs of the cushion may be provided with handle straps or loops d, if desired.

The cushion may be provided with a suitable check-valve e, whereby it may be inflated with air or other fluid, and when so provided and inflated the normal tendency of the airpressure at the free extremities of the legs or shanks is to bring said legs or shanks into contact, which, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is the normal inflated position of the shanks or legs. When inflated, the

shanks or legs may be freely adjusted toward and from each other in the manner already described.

We consider the construction of the cushion comprising the body portion provided with a pair of free substantially parallel shanks or legs as the most important attribute of our invention, as it enables the cushion to support the body naturally and comfortably in the ordinary sitting position and to be adjusted in the manner described to facilitate various surgical operations and minister to the comfort of the user generally, the other features, however, being important auxiliaries in the construction of the cushion.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. As a new article of manufacture, an inflatable cushion comprising a body portion having ventilating-channels and free shanks extending from said body in general parallel lines one with the other,with their terminals laterally extended inward toward each other to form a substantially solid portion in cross-section normally, substantially as set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an inflatable cushion comprising a body portion and free shanks extending therefrom in general parallel lines one with the other, with their terminals laterally extended inward toward each other, to form a normally substantially solid portion in cross-section, said body portion having a horizontallyextending air-channel, substantially as set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture an inflatable cushion comprising a body portion and free shanks extending in general parallel lines one with the,other,with their terminals laterally extended toward each other, to form a normally substantially solid portion in cross-section, said body portion having horizontally-extending ventilating or air channels, and said body portion and shanks, having an opening between them with a contracted elongated or extension passage communicating with said opening, substantially as set forth.

4. A cushion having a body provided with a pair of free substantially parallel shanks or legs normallyarranged near or close together and capable of being adjusted to and from each other, said cushion having a central opening and a contracted passage leading therefrom between the free shanks or legs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our handsin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL HOGAN. CHRISTIAN WILLIAM MEINECKE.

Witnesses:

W. O. HAUFF, E. I KASTENHUBER.

ICO 

